Army Involves Families In Wounded Warriors' Recovery Goals

(NAPSI)-Army Staff Sgt. Gabriel Garcia realized how much he needed his
family when he lost his right arm in combat. Now, as Garcia learns to use a
prosthetic, his entire family participates in his recovery at the Warrior
Transition Unit (WTU) at WalterReedArmyMedicalCenter
in Washington, D.C.

Soldiers requiring at least six months of complex medical care are
assigned to one of the 29 WTUs throughout the United
States and Europe. At
these facilities, more than 9,000 soldiers like Garcia have one mission: to
heal and transition, either back to the force or to veteran status. Garcia
spends his days attending appointments for medical care, physical therapy and
occupational therapy, and working toward his transition goals.

With the support of his medical providers and professional
multidisciplinary team, Garcia articulated his goals through his
Comprehensive Transition Plan (CTP), developed by the Army Warrior Transition
Command (WTC). The CTP is a six-part process that includes a personalized
plan for each wounded soldier.

“The Comprehensive Transition Plan isn’t the Army’s plan
for the soldier,” said Col. Darryl Williams, commander of the Warrior
Transition Command. “It’s a process that includes a personal plan
created for the soldier by the soldier. They provide the vision-the Army
provides the tools.”

Families have a formal role in the CTP process that includes attending
medical appointments and regular progress meetings, called scrimmages, and
supporting the soldier in accomplishing his/her goals.

The Army recognizes the pivotal role families play in the recovery of wounded warriors, and the Army integrates them in the soldier's treatment and transition plan.

“It’s everybody coming together,” said Christina Garcia,
Staff Sgt. Garcia’s wife, after one of these scrimmages. “His
nurse case manager, his primary care doctor, the social worker and his squad
leader—everybody together in the same room—discussing just him.”

The Garcia family works together to support Garcia’s recovery goals.
Christina keeps careful watch over his schedule and the care of his
prosthetics. Garcia’s son plays video games with him to support his
hand dexterity and throws the football with him to increase his arm strength.

“This is my new life. I am missing an arm but I’m just lucky
to still be alive,” said Garcia. “It doesn’t mean I can’t
do anything a normal person can do. It is just a little tougher for me, and I
have to be smart and figure out a way around it.”

WTC is a new command under the U.S. Army Medical Command. For more
information, visit www.WTC.army.mil.